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Social media became weird when people started viewing it not as a place for casual interaction but as a source of potential income and influence.
In the early days of social media, there was a genuine promise of meaningful connection. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter were marketed as places where average people could come together, share ideas, and even organize for positive change.
Mark Zuckerberg famously claimed that his platform would help connect people who might never have met otherwise, while Jack Dorsey envisioned Twitter as a modern "digital town square." Yet, in recent years, social media seems to have strayed far from this ideal. What once was a vibrant, diverse space is increasingly dominated by commercial interests, polarized debates, and manufactured outrage.
The shift didn't happen overnight. Slowly but surely, many of the so-called "normies"—the average, everyday users—began logging off. Perhaps they found greater joy in personal hobbies, spending time with loved ones, or simply choosing to focus on their real lives rather than the perpetual scroll.
Their departure has left a void filled by influencers, propagandists, and hyper-engaged users who thrive on attention—often at any cost. The algorithms that power social media platforms favor engagement above all else, which means that the loudest voices, the most divisive arguments, and the most sensational content tend to dominate the conversation.
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This change has created an environment where social media is now primarily a marketplace—not just for products, but for ideas, ideologies, and even emotions. Influencers peddle lifestyle dreams alongside products, while provocateurs fan the flames of controversy to maintain visibility.
Many users who remain are incentivized to create engagement not because they believe passionately in their posts, but because they hope for a small reward from platforms like Facebook, whether in the form of cash payments or algorithmic favor. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, about 30% of Americans say they often see content designed to provoke strong emotional reactions—suggesting that the promise of genuine community connection has largely been replaced by outrage for clicks.
Statistics show the extent of this shift: A recent report from Statista indicates that 80% of social media users now interact with commercial content, while only 25% say they use these platforms to connect with friends and family. Moreover, researchers at MIT have found that misinformation spreads six times faster on Twitter than factual news—a trend that further reveals the systemic issues plaguing these platforms.
While the platforms themselves certainly share the blame for this decline in quality, there is also a cultural aspect to consider. Social media became weird when people started viewing it not as a place for casual interaction but as a source of potential income and influence. The pursuit of clicks, likes, and shares became the dominant goal for a large segment of users. And when average users who simply wanted to stay in touch with friends began opting out, it left behind those who viewed social media as a tool to gain something—whether money, fame, or power.
The nature of these interactions has also changed. It’s common now to see strangers engaged in bitter arguments over topics they might barely have cared about the day before—not because they have deep convictions, but because conflict drives engagement. This creates a feedback loop in which individuals post controversial opinions, generate backlash, and use that attention to either monetize their presence or amplify their personal brand. The rise of influencers—who are essentially modern-day marketers—has further blurred the lines between genuine connection and business transaction.
Consider the rise of "engagement farming", where individuals deliberately post divisive or inflammatory content to maximize reactions, knowing full well that emotional responses drive traffic. This trend underscores the reality that much of what we see on social media today is designed not to inform or inspire, but to elicit a response—even if it’s a negative one. As a result, users are constantly exposed to emotionally charged content, leading to increased polarization and decreased trust.
The "normies" who have left social media may actually be on to something. Studies show that spending less time online can improve mental health, reduce stress, and lead to more fulfilling relationships in the real world. For those who have stayed behind, social media has become a strange, almost dystopian landscape, where people argue with strangers, perform for algorithms, and chase rewards that rarely bring lasting happiness.
Perhaps the solution isn’t to abandon social media entirely, but to rethink how we use it—to step back from the performative elements and try to bring back a sense of genuine community and connection. Until then, social media will likely remain a place where the loudest voices dominate, and the real promise of connection feels increasingly out of reach.
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